Sheet 51Getting certified
What do construction safety supervisors earn?
There is no STSC salary figure to quote, because the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) doesn't track STSC holders. The two closest occupations are first-line supervisors of construction trades, with a median annual wage of $79,920, and occupational health and safety specialists, at $90,150 (BLS OEWS, May 2025; checked Oct 12, 2026).
- ExamSTSC
- UpdatedOct 12, 2026
Annual wages, May 2025
| Occupation (SOC) | 10th pct | Median | Mean | 90th pct |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| First-line supervisors of construction trades (47-1011) | $53,280 | $79,920 | $86,450 | $128,260 |
| Occupational health and safety specialists (19-5011) | $55,000 | $90,150 | $93,860 | $134,950 |
OEWS employment in May 2025: 812,210 in 47-1011 and 140,610 in 19-5011, wage-and-salary jobs only.
Outlook, 2025 to 2035
| Occupation (SOC) | Change | Openings a year | Typical entry | Related experience |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 47-1011 | +5.0% | about 67,000 | High school diploma or equivalent | 5 years or more |
| 19-5011 | +18.5% | about 17,100 | Bachelor's degree | None |
Projections count jobs on a different basis from OEWS (they include the self-employed), so job totals from the two tables are not comparable.
Which row fits your job
A foreman, superintendent or crew lead who runs the work sits in 47-1011. That is the job the STSC is written around, and BLS lists its typical entry as a high school diploma plus 5 years or more of related experience. How to become a construction safety supervisor lays out the steps.
A full-time safety specialist sits closer to 19-5011, where BLS lists a bachelor's degree as the typical entry. BCSP's technician and professional credentials are aimed at that side of the work; STSC vs CHST shows where the supervisor credential ends and the construction safety technician credential begins.
Reading the pay data
Does earning the STSC raise your pay?
No source we use measures that. BLS reports pay by occupation, and the figures on this page cover certified and uncertified workers alike (OEWS, May 2025).
Why not use salary sites?
This page sticks to one source: BLS OEWS, a federal survey of employers that reports pay by occupation. Salary sites collect their numbers differently, so the two don't compare cleanly.
Sources
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